Nico Rosberg announces F1 retirement

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg has just announced his retirement from Formula One.

“Since my 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become a Formula One World Champion,” Rosberg reported.

“Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it.

“I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen.”

After securing a victory in nine races this season, Rosberg snatched the Championship from teammate Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Rosberg secured his maiden Championship at Abu Dhabi last weekend.

The German reported that he began to consider his future around the Japanese Grand Prix in October, and secured this choice within 24 hours after he won the World Championship.

“When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion,” he added.

“On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start.

“I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time… and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life.

“I took my decision on Monday evening. After reflecting for a day, the first people I told were Vivian [wife] and Georg [Nolte, part of his management team], followed by Toto [Wolff, Mercedes Head of Motorsport].”

The newly-crowned World Champion announced this choice during a press conference on the 2 December in Vienna, Austria, where himself and Mercedes will collect their 2016 Championship trophies.